I understand, Sir, that in a place which I greatly respect, and by a person for whom I have likewise a great veneration, a pamphlet published by a Mr. Debrett has been very heavily censured.  That pamphlet, I hear, (for I have not read it,) purports to be a Report made by one of your Committees to this House.  It has been censured, as I am told, by the person and in the place I have mentioned, in very harsh and very unqualified terms.  It has been there said, (and so far very truly,) that at all times, and particularly at this time, it is necessary, for the preservation of order and the execution of the law, that the characters and reputation of the Judges of the Courts in Westminster Hall should be kept in the highest degree of respect and reverence; and that in this pamphlet, described by the name of a libel, the characters and conduct of those Judges upon a late occasion have been aspersed, as arising from ignorance or corruption.

Sir, combining all the circumstances, I think it impossible not to suppose that this speech does reflect upon a Report which, by an order of the Committee on which I served, I had the honor of presenting to this House.  For anything improper in that Report I am responsible, as well as the members of the Committee, to this House, and to this House only.  The matters contained in it, and the observations upon them, are submitted to the wisdom of the House, that you may act upon both in the time and manner that to your judgment may seem most expedient,—­or that you may not act upon them at all, if you should think that most expedient for the public good.  Your Committee has obeyed your orders; it has done its duty in making that Report.

I am of opinion, with the eminent person by whom that Report is censured, that it is necessary at this time very particularly that the authority of Judges should be preserved and supported.  This, however, does not depend so much upon us as upon themselves.  It is necessary to preserve the dignity and respect of all the constitutional authorities.  This, too, depends in part upon ourselves.  It is necessary to preserve the respect due to the House of Lords:  it is full as necessary to preserve the respect due to the House of Commons, upon which (whatever may be thought of us by some persons) the weight and force of all other authorities within this kingdom essentially depend.  If the power of the House of Commons be degraded or enervated, no other can stand.  We must be true to ourselves.  We ought to animadvert upon any of our members who abuse the trust we place in them; we must support those who, without regard to consequences, perform their duty.